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Colombia Tax Reform Protests Continue As President Withdraws Bill; Finance Minister Quits
Despite pulling back the tax reform proposal, protesters continued protests condemning Colombia government’s “mishandling” of COVID-19 pandemic and job losses.
(Image Credit: AP)
Despite the withdrawal of the proposed tax reforms by the right-wing administration of President Ivan Duque, tens of thousands of Columbians and members of trade unions continued their violent protests in the streets of Columbia on Monday. At least 17 have been reported dead so far in major clashes between the demonstrators and the police across different cities, Colombia's office of the ombudsman said in a statement. The tax reforms, contested as hiking financial pressure on low- and middle-income groups was shelved after widespread opposition and angst from the opposition lawmakers in Columbia and the citizens, many of whom demanded the levelling of sales tax on utilities. Colombia’s finance minister Alberto Carrasquilla resigned earlier yesterday following five days of outrage which included riots and violent clashes as citizens demanded scrapping of 19 percent of sales tax on gasoline and the government's expansion of the country’s tax base.